A new hotel on skis is launched in Finland

March 27, 2018

Spot the Northern Lights from the comfort of your bed

Northern Finland has launched a new hotel experience where a glamping cabin is towed into a remote wilderness location, deep in the Arctic Circle, perfectly situated for lying back to experience the Northern Lights from the comfort of your bed.

The new mobile room, which includes a clear Aurora-viewing roof, is located six kilometres east of Kilpisjärvi, Finland and is available to book through Off the Map Travel for any guest travelling until mid-April, whereupon it will reopen in January 2019.

Those staying in the new wilderness rooms will enjoy a cosy cabin which measures 2.5 metres wide, 4.5 metres long and two metres tall, and includes a comfy wide bed to lie back and take in the night sky, a table, dry toilet and a gas heater with thermostat to ensure a warm and cosy night.

Guests will also have exclusive use of the cabin’s snowshoes and kick sleds giving the chance to explore the local area during the stay.

The wilderness surrounding Kilpisjärvi is known for its remote and uninterrupted Arctic tundra,” added Jonny Cooper, founder of Off the Map Travel and Arctic travel expert. “Away from any manmade light pollution, it is here that that the wilderness camp is placed for the winter, giving guests the best possible opportunity to experience the Northern Lights and simply enjoy the silence of the Arctic plains.

The new cabins provide a combination of adventure and comfort. It allows those who are looking to completely escape from the modern world to be with nature as they hunt for the Northern Lights from their bed.

With three mobile rooms available to book, each comfortably sleeping two people, the new cabins combine to make an Aurora Wilderness Camp, placed in the best possible location for Northern Lights hunting. Once the winter ice has thawed the rooms will then be relocated to a new home for the following season.

Situated six kilometres east from Kilpisjärvi, the Aurora Wilderness Camp huts will include gas stove, a super wide bed, table, heater, dry toilet, snowshoes and kick sleds, all adding to this glamping arctic experience.

The experience starts at 6 pm where an experienced guide transports guests by snowmobile to their room for the night before teaching them how to make a campfire and grill some local sausages. After the wilderness grill, guests will have the camp to themselves to hunt for the Northern Lights and enjoy the peace of the Arctic wilderness.

To fuel guests’ Northern Lights hunting, local snacks and hot drinks are provided, with a warming breakfast also included in the overnight experience.

Statistically, the Kilpisjärvi area has more clear night skies and records more Northern Lights activity than any other place in Finland. Experts have estimated that if the sky is clear, visitors have more than a 70% chance of seeing the Northern Lights.

As with any itinerary from Off the Map Travel, every itinerary can be tailor-made to fit the wishes and requirements of any guest. As an example, a three-night, four-day itinerary costs from £1599 per person based on two adults sharing on a full-board basis. This includes private transfers to and from the airport in Tromso, accommodation for two nights in a cosy log chalet and one in the new Aurora Wilderness Camp with all meals included and great opportunities to see the Aurora.